Fewer Americans receiving health insurance from employers

A recent Gallup poll found that fewer consumers are getting heathcare coverage from their place of work.

During the third quarter, 44.5 percent of American adults reported receiving health insurance coverage from their employer, a figure that has declined consistently since 2008 when the barometer began, according to the poll. The rate was 49.8 percent in the first quarter of 2008, but has steadily declined since that point in time.

The figure suggests that more consumers are becoming uninsured - 17.3 percent for the second consecutive quarter - while 11.4 percent may be comparing health insurance quotes and choosing a private plan, the poll showed. Slightly more than one-quarter of Americans are insured under government-sponsored health insurance plans such as Medicare or Medicaid.

Consumers who are no longer being offered health insurance from an employer may not want to go without coverage, especially with new regulations coming into effect in 2014. By comparing health insurance rates, the consumer may give themselves a leg-up when trying to have an affordable plan.